The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is honoured to partner with School District 22 to bring a Legacy of Hope traveling exhibit to Vernon.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national Indigenous charitable organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System. The LHF supports the ongoing healing process of Residential School Survivors and their families, and seeks their input on projects that honour them.

The exhibit that will be featured at the Vernon Museum is titled “Remembering, Honouring, & The Way Forward: 10 Years After the Residential School Apology.” It was created to remember the Survivors who made it out of the schools, to honour those who did not, and to provide all Canadians with a unique opportunity to reflect on what Reconciliation means to them.

The importance of this exhibit is magnified by the tragic discovery in Kamloops.

“The devastating news from Kamloops is triggering an outpouring of grief across the country and serves as a reminder of the intergenerational trauma that resulted from the Residential School System,” says Executive Director Steve Fleck. “This exhibit arrives at a critical moment, and it is our hope that we can learn more about the lived experiences of survivors and their descendants. We invite visitors to view the exhibit and reflect on the meaning of Reconciliation.”

The exhibit will be on display at the Vernon Museum from June until September 2021. For the month of June, it is opened to School District 22 classes, as well as independent learners. Please contact us to book your class ahead of time. Beginning July 7, 2021, the exhibit, as well as the remainder of the museum, will be open to the public by drop-in. For more information, please visit https://vernonmuseum.ca/legacy-of-hope-exhibit/.